Pit toilets pose a danger to Mabila Primary's learners

Teachers and parents of learners at Mabila Primary School in Matavhela Hamabila village are very worried that learners may fall into the dilapidated pit toilets still in use at the school. The school, which has around 100 learners, relies on four unsafe pit toilets.

Mabila Primary School was included in the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) implemented by the Mvula Trust. Although the school was provided with building materials to construct new sanitation blocks eight years ago, the contractor was not appointed because of the school's plan to merge with Guyuni Primary.

Speaking to Limpopo Mirror, one of the parents, Ms Mabila Mishumo, expressed concern that the pit toilets pose a risk to their children. "The pit toilets are dangerous as they might also have snakes. We fear that our children, especially those in Grade R, might fall inside them. We are urging the education department to urgently build proper flushing toilets," she said.

Mr Rotshidzwa Maluga, chairperson of the school-governing body (SGB), stated that they had first requested mobile toilets in 2020, but these were never delivered. They submitted another request last month. He said the existing toilets were not properly maintained and that the school urgently needed mobile toilets.

“They promised that after providing the school with mobile toilets soon, they would hire a contractor to demolish the pit toilets. That should not make them forget that all we need are proper toilets for our learners, not temporary mobile toilets,” Maluga said.

On 31 March this year, the South African government promised to replace all pit toilets at schools nationwide, but this has not been the case. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga stated some 3,398 schools were still using pit latrines, and the deadline to replace them has been shifted to 2025.

The education department’s acting spokesperson, Ms Mosebjane Kgaffe, said the service provider was currently busy with demolitions at Niani East and West circuits, and Mabila Primary formed part of those schools. “Six mobile toilets will be provided to the school prior to the demolitions, specifically at Mabila Primary,” Kgaffe said.

Date:01 June 2024

By: Thembi Siaga

Thembi Siaga started as an intern during 2021. He assisted with video photography and editing. He also produced numerous small documentaries, focusing on the Vhembe region and its people. Currently he works as a freelance journalist, covering stories in the Elim area.

Thembi studied at the Tshwane University of Technology, where he completed his diploma in Journalism in 2021.

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